Questions and answers (FAQ)
Here we answer the most common questions about traveling by canal boat on the Telemark Canal.
New season for canal boats starts on 18 May 2026
Number of seats on board?
MS Henrik Ibsen sails with a maximum of 99 passengers.
MS Victoria sails with a maximum of 120 passengers.
Children?
We have our own children's prices on board the canal boats. Children 0 - 3 years: free. NB! A ticket must be booked even if they travel for free. This is because everyone on board counts in the number of passengers. Children 4 - 15 years: Fee per child. NB! Although children aged 0 - 3 travel for free, a ticket must be booked for them as they must be included in the number of passengers on board. It is not mandatory for children to wear life jackets on board. If you still want children to use this, you must bring your own vests. We ask that parents keep children under close supervision throughout the journey.
Stroller on board?
Small, foldable trolleys are free to take on board and it is not necessary to book a place for these in advance.
Large strollers (deep strollers) that are to be included cost kr. 100,-. A place for these is booked together with the boat ticket. NB! Although children aged 0 - 3 travel for free, a ticket must be booked for them as they must be included in the number of passengers on board.
Clothing?
The season lasts from May to October and the weather can be variable. We recommend keeping an eye on the weather forecast for the area you are going to and dress according to the weather. We recommend travelers to bring suitable shoes, a windproof jacket, warm mid-layers and sunscreen.
Dining on board?
Food and drink will be served on board the canal boats throughout the voyage. Food and drinks are not included in regular tickets. All boats have a restaurant with beer and wine rights.
Pre-ordering of food is not necessary, but it is possible to order today's lunch together with the boat tickets on M/S Victoria and M/S Henrik Ibsen. For groups over 10 people, we recommend pre-ordering food. Unfortunately, it is not possible to reserve a fixed table in the restaurant.
Brought food and drink are not allowed on the canal ships. You are welcome to bring food for small children. If you have allergies, we ask you to let [email protected] know well in advance. The boats have limited space in their kitchens, and we cannot guarantee that there will be no traces of allergens in the food
Booking: Should you pre-book tickets for the canal boats?
Yes, you definitely should. If you have not made a reservation in advance, you may risk having to be left behind when the canal boats leave the quay www.booktelemark.no. When booking over the phone, or on board the boat, there is a fee.
Payment?
For individual travellers, full payment is made at the time of booking (Bank Axcept, Visa or MasterCard). Tickets can be booked online at www.booktelemark.no. When booking by phone, or on board the boat, a fee will be added. For groups, separate terms and conditions apply.
Honor, companion, student?
On the canal boats, the companion travels free of charge upon presentation of a companion certificate. Ticket reservations are made by phone 409 20 000. Please inform when booking the ticket that one of the entourage has a companion certificate. There is no discount for students and seniors.
Dog on board the boats?
It is allowed to bring dogs on board the canal boats, but we ask that extra consideration is given to other passengers. It is not possible to get on and off the boat to walk the dog along the way. The dog must stay on deck, be on a leash and under the supervision of the owner at all times. Tickets for the dog are paid on board the boat (cannot be booked online).
Dog on bus: If you are going to take a bus as part of your journey, please note that the bus companies do not guarantee that your dog can accompany you due to consideration for passengers with asthma/allergies. The best thing for travelers with dogs is therefore to take a return trip by boat both ways. Routes where this is possible on the same day: Ulefoss-Lunde round trip, Skien-Lunde round trip, Akkerhaugen-Lunde round trip and Dalen-Kjeldal round trip. The exception is the bus route that goes Notodden-Akkerhaugen-Lunde (and back). This means that on the half-day trips between Notodden/Akkerhaugen and Lunde, you can bring your dog both on the boat and bus. Read more about dogs on this bus here:
Canal bus?
The canal bus runs corresponding buses so that you can combine boat and bus, and thus get back to the starting point.
- Do you have to book a seat on the canal buses?
Yes, this is done at the same time as the canal boat booking when you book day trips. - The canal bus that runs between Skien-Lunde and Ulefoss-Lunde is a tour bus. Tickets for this bus must be pre-booked and paid for, as they do not have the possibility of payment on the bus.
- It is not possible to bring a dog, with the exception of guide dogs.
- If you are traveling with smaller children, they have available: 2 pillows, 1 crib for babies, 1 chair suitable for children 2-6 years
Companion discount?
On the canal boats, the companion travels free of charge upon presentation of a companion certificate. Ticket reservations are made by phone 409 20 000. Please inform when booking the ticket that one of the entourage has a companion certificate. There is no discount for students and seniors.
Parking?
There are free parking facilities for boat passengers at all ports of call along the Telemark Canal. At Hjellebrygga pier in Skien, it is mandatory to have a parking permit clearly visible in the windshield of the car. You get a parking permit for Hjellebrygga pier on the boat before departure at 08:10 and on the bus before departure at 11:50, or at the booking office on the pier when this is open. If you are traveling at other times than 08.10 and 11.50 , it is a good idea to contact us in advance to arrange a parking permit. Parking is not guarded and is at your own risk. Read signs, there may be other parking options that are not connected to the Telemark Canal and that have restrictions. Show consideration for private property.
The Telemark Canal is long (105 km), and we recommend using a specific address for the port of call in the GPS map. Do not use the Telemark Canal as a map search. An overview of addresses and other useful information about the ports of call can be found in our overview:
Wheelchairs/people with reduced mobility?
The passenger boats on the Telemark Canal are vintage boats and thus not universally designed and adapted for people with reduced mobility. However, there is room to take on board manual wheelchairs up the gangway, but not electric ones.
For passengers with reduced mobility, we recommend travelling from/to boarding points where boarding while the boat is in a lock. This is because there can be a steep climb from pier to boat in the places where the boat docks at a quay/pier. Our recommended stretch is from Ulefoss to Lunde. There are stairs down to the restaurant on board and people with reduced mobility may therefore have difficulty getting down. There are toilets up on deck. On M/S Henrik Ibsen there is an HC toilet on deck, while on the other boats there is a high threshold into the toilet.
If you want to travel with us on a tour that includes a bus, please note that the disabled person must then be able to get into the bus with their own help or with the help of a companion. Lunde taxi center offers maxitaxi with wheelchair lift. This must be pre-booked due to availability. The telephone number for Lunde taxi dispatch centre is 35 94 84 99.
Smoking on board?
Smoking is only allowed at the very back of the aft deck while the boat is moving. It is not allowed to smoke while the boat is in a lock, we ask smokers to be considerate of other passengers.
Safety?
All boats are safety certified according to Norwegian maritime regulations. The boats are equipped with life rafts and vests for everyone, and the crew has safety courses and all the necessary certifications. For the passengers' own safety, we encourage caution on board, including not running on deck, not keeping your hands out of the railing when the boat is inside a lock (crushing hazard) and not climbing or standing on benches/chairs. It is not mandatory for children to wear life jackets on board. If you still want children to use this, you must bring your own vests. We ask that parents keep children under close supervision throughout the journey. Note: It is strictly forbidden to get on and off the boat by any means other than via a gangway.
Bike/bike trailer/canoe/kayak on board?
M/S Henrik Ibsen and M/S Victoria can bring bicycles, bicycle trailers, canoes and kayaks. M/S Telemarken can bring bicycles. We recommend pre-booking to be guaranteed a place on board. Tickets can be booked here:
BICYCLES AND BICYCLE TRAILERS:
- Please arrive no later than 30 minutes before departure. We ask that the bike/trolley be emptied of luggage since it must be hoisted/lifted onto the roof of the boat, for travelers with an electric bike, the battery must always be removed and carried on board themselves. The maximum weight for a bicycle is 25 kg (on M/S Telemarken 15 kg). Unfortunately, we do not have room for cargo bikes and other large bikes. NB! M/S Telemarken does not have the capacity to bring bicycle trailers.
- ELECTRIC BIKES: It is not allowed to charge bicycle batteries on board due to the risk of fire. Please leave batteries on e-bikes for the duration of your journey.
- Equipment is transported at the guest's own risk and any damage to the equipment must be covered by the traveler's insurance.
CANOE/KAYAK:
- Please arrive no later than 20 minutes before departure. We ask that the canoe/kayak be emptied of luggage since it will be hoisted/lifted onto the roof of the boat and must be as light as possible. The owner must be available to help get the canoe/kayak on board. Canoes/kayaks cannot be pre-booked on M/S Telemarken, but may be possible to bring on arrival (no space guarantee).
- Equipment is transported at the guest's own risk and any damage to the equipment must be covered by the traveler's insurance.
NB! Due to the danger of power plant intake and in encounters with scheduled boats in narrow passages, it is very important to read safety information on signs and notices along the way. Read more about paddling on the Telemark Canal's paddling pages:
Rental Bicycle and canoe/kayak?
Bicycles, canoes and kayaks can be rented by contacting Telemark Kanalcamping on telephone 915 75 421. www.kanalcamping.no
Renting a motorboat?
Motorboats can be rented by contacting Norsjø Ferieland on telephone 35 95 84 30.
Electric cabin cruisers can be rented from Canal Boats Telemark: https://canalboats.no/